KBS2 variety show 2 Days & 1 Night Season 4 (hereafter ‘2 Days & 1 Night’) kept its Sunday crown as new members Yong-jin Lee and Gi-taek Lee officially joined the cast.
The June 7 broadcast kicked off the first chapter of a self-sufficient, off-the-grid trip featuring Yong-jin Lee and Gi-taek Lee as the newest additions.
The duo greeted viewers as the newest family members — but the warm welcome ended fast. Producers split the existing cast into pairs and launched a pickup challenge, sending everyone racing to the opening location, Dumulmeori in Yangpyeong. With a heavy penalty for the last team to arrive, the two rookies scrambled to track down their seniors’ locations.
Veteran variety star Yong-jin moved with a tight plan and clear route. In contrast, newbie Gi-taek revealed his inexperience by calling DinDin before even leaving the KBS building.
Gi-taek then rang up Jong-min Kim, bluffing, “You’re the first senior I called.” But Jong-min, who knew Gi-taek had already called DinDin, shot back, “Why lie?” and toyed with the rookie. From the jump, the veterans’ polished instincts clashed hilariously with the newcomer’s endearing clumsiness.
After a tense game of wits, Yong-jin picked up Se-yoon Moon and Joon Lee, while Gi-taek gathered Jong-min Kim and DinDin. Gi-taek’s team reached Dumulmeori first. Yong-jin’s losing team started their rough journey with a penalty: their personal bags were confiscated.
All six then boarded a bus to the next stop. Despite it being their first shoot together, the cast quickly bonded, trading jokes with ease and showcasing a lively six-member chemistry.
At a rest stop, a team showdown determined lunch time for Hanwoo (premium Korean beef). In the first round, which required guessing the total price of the dishes, Yong-jin caught an error everyone else missed and nailed the answer. He then won the team-leader solo mission, securing 10 minutes of eating time for Team Yong-jin.
On the bus, a rapid-fire quiz mission offered chances to earn extra minutes. Serving as the brains of their teams, Yong-jin and DinDin went head-to-head for bragging rights. DinDin quipped, “If I’m a rat, Yong-jin is a nutria,” teasing a new on-screen rivalry.
The quiz stayed neck and neck until the final question, with Team Yong-jin taking the win. Beaten again, Team Gi-taek secured just six minutes to eat — and after failing an additional luck-based challenge, their final eating time dropped to five minutes.
In response, Jong-min, DinDin, and Gi-taek tossed the meat onto the grill, ran outside, and stopped the timer — a cheeky strategy. While Team Yong-jin enjoyed a relaxed meal, Team Gi-taek was forced to shovel down meat against the clock, creating a hilariously desperate scene.
Near the end, the show teased the “spicy” reality of the true wilderness trek. The members arrived on a deserted mountain path, hauled their own gear as befits a self-sufficient trip, and even crossed an icy river barefoot for a brutal initiation.
The ratings delivered. According to Nielsen Korea (nationwide), the episode scored 7.1%, topping its time slot. The scene of the members taking off their shoes to wade through a frigid valley stream on their way to base camp hit a minute-by-minute peak of 10.1%. Among viewers aged 20–49 in the Seoul Capital Area, it also ranked No. 1 with 2.1%.
With Yong-jin Lee and Gi-taek Lee completing the fresh six-member lineup, anticipation is high to see what chemistry and laughs ‘2 Days & 1 Night’ serves up next.